Take-off mechanism



"'Feb. 21, 1939. op.v MCFARLAND ET AL v 2,145,379

' AKE-OFF MECHANISM Filed Saffi.. 29, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l www WML@

Frgm 2.1, 1939. o. D. MCFARLAND ET AL 2,143,379

I TKE'OF'F MECHANISM Filed Sept.v 29, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 2 Izdefz am@ @52X/Maz Feb. 21, 1939. o, D, MCFARLAND ET AL 2,148,379

TAKE'OFF MECHANISM Filed sept.v 29, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 5l Feb. 21, 1939. o. D. MCFARLAND ET AL. 2,148,379

TAKE- OFF MECHANI SM Filed sept. 29, 19:57 f4 sheets-sheer 4 w l l Imi?. Hm

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Patented Feb; 21, 1939 TAKE OFF MECHANISM Owen D. .McFarland and Alfred O. Mickelson, MZ, b 'i Chicago, Ill., assignors'to Roofing Machinery Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,431

8 Claims. (Cl. RS4-845) The present mechanism has been designed particularly .to operate upon a traveling sheet of roofing material shortly after it has passed through a pair of cutting rollers, the purpose being to separate land remove the severed shingles, whether of single or multiple units, for distribution to a plurality of delivery stations. In the description to follow reference will 'be made to a'machine which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as a suggestive embodiment of our invention. y

In the manufacture of roofing shingles, it is important that means be provided for severing the shingles from va slitted sheet, and for removing the shingles as severed to a plurality of stations preliminary to bundling. For doing this a take-oif mechanism is employed. It should be so constructed as to be adaptable to existing roofing machines so as to operate in conjunction therewith; `and it should be speedy and certain in its operation so that the speed of travel of the roofing material through the machine need not be retarded and so that the severed shingles which are taken off and deposited in different stacks will be piled evenly to facilitate tying and removal. These as well as various other objects and advantages are all realized by the mechanism of our invention of which a preferred embodiment 4is illustrated in the accompanying l drawings inthe manner' following:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the delivery end of a roofing machine to which is operatively connected the take-olf mechanismof our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the shingles-in process .of being separated from the sheet during the take-off operation;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the lock for onexof the vertically adjustable bars of the take-off mechanism;

Figs. 6 and '1 are details in section taken, re-

spectively, on lines 6--6 and 1--1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on line 8 of Fig.

2; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a suggestive arrangement of four delivery stations in connection with the take-off mechanism. With the details of manufacture of the roong sheet this invention is not concerned; it operates merely in conjunction with the delivery end of such a machine which includes suitable slitting rolls (not shown) for severing the sheet S, except for slight connecting webs, into shingles a,

b, c, d of single or multiple units (see Fig. 4) which are disposed in as many different lanes lengthwise of the sheet. Aft-er leaving the cutting rolls the sheet continues its advance to be acted upon by the several agencies now to be described.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the sheet first passes between upper and lower feeding rolls I0 and II, respectively. Upon leaving these rolls the. sheet advances on to a support which comprises a plurality of endless belts I2 which travel around rolls I3 and I4. The former of these rolls is positioned proximate to the feeding rolls so as to support the sheet immediately upon its emerging therebetween. The` other roll I4, however,

is located a desired distance away therefrom,

preferably close to a pair of adjustable pulling rolls I5 and I6 between which the sheet is advanced. The pulling rolls are journaled for rotation within a frame Il which furnishes a guide for blocks I8 each forming a bearing for the upper roll. As by a screw-threaded shaft I9 operable with a hand wheel 2U the upper roll` Amay be adjusted toward or from the lower roll the shaft of the roll I I whereby to produce rotation thereof.' From a concentric pulley 23 a belt 24 is run over a smaller pulley 25 which is mounted on the shaft of the pulling roll I6 to transmit rotation thereto. Over a second pulley 26 concentric with the pulley 25 is trained a belt 21 which passes around a pulley 28 mounted on the shaft of the roll I4. By this system of transmission the belt 2| rotates both the feeding and pulling rolls, the latter, however, at a somewhat higher peripheral speed; the endless belts which train over the rolls I3 and I4 are also moved to support on their upper runs the sheet which is required to pass through the two sets of rolls just referred to.

At a point intermediate of the feeding and pulling rolls is positioned a pair of idler rolls 30 and 3I. These rolls are mounted for rotation and adjustment, one with respect to the other, within a pair of supporting frames 32 which is itself adjustable lengthwise of the machine. As shown,

the upper roll is journaled Within lbearings 33 adapted to be vertically adjusted vas by means of a screw 34 and hand wheel 35 whereby to exert a variable pressure on the sheet at this point. The lower roll 3| underlies the upper run of the endy FEB 1 s 1941 less belts so that pressure exerted by the upper roll is directed against the sheet while supported upon the belts. The frames 32 which mount the idler rolls are slidingly rested at each end upon a side rail 36 of the machine bed (see Fig. 8) being guided between spaced bars 31 and 38, the latter of which 'is formed with rack teeth with which meshes a pinion 39 upon a cross shaft 40 having an operating hand wheel 4I. The position of the cooperating idler rolls may accordingly be shifted toward or from either of the other pair of rolls previously described.

Uponleaving the feeding rolls the slitted sheet lis tensioned by reason of the greater peripheral speed of rotation of the pulling rolls. In consequence, the sheet tends to separate into individual shingles a, b, c and d (see Fig. 4) along its pre-slitted lines, designated as :c (longitudinal) and y (transverse). From and after this moment the individual shingles, either completely or partly separated, are advanced processionally through diverging paths to a plurality of delivery stations. During this stage of their travel separation of the shinglesl from each other is completed. The mechanism for attending to these operations will now be described.

At the delivery end of the machine are positioned spaced upright frame members each mounting an upper bracket 46 between which is supported a cross shaft 41 to which are pivoted in side by side relation a plurality of handlelevers 48 each having spaced pairs of spaced shoulders 49 and 50. Proximate to these shoulders are opposite faces of a pair of vertically adjustable bars 5| each having in one face a shallow notch 52 wherein the shoulder 48 may engage to lock the two bars in a definite operative position. Between the lower end of each pair of bars is rotatively supported a grooved sheave 55 around which runs an endless narrow pulling and delivery belt 56 which rides within one of the grooves of one of the upper pulling rolls I5. Each belt is maintained taut by an extensible strut which, as shown, comprises two telescoping tubes 51 and 58, one yoked for pivotal connection with a pair of bars 5| and the other for a like connection with. a shaft 59 which is supported xedly between two brackets 60 extending from the frame I1, a compression spring 6| exerting opposite thrusts against the' two tubes whereby to maintain the strut in an extended condition such that the belt remains taut. Each pair of bars 5| may be equipped with a lifting handle 62, as

shown. To keep the grooves of the sheaves and feeding rolls clear of grit and foreign matter, we provide small blades 63 one extending within each such groove, as shown best in Fig. 6.

For each pulling and delivery belt assembly just described, viz. the vertically adjustable bars and sheave together with extensible strut, we provide a duplicate assembly in a lower position which is proximate thereto. Inasmuch as the parts of this lower delivery belt assembly are the same, we have designated them by like reference numerals with a 1 added. The lower pulling and delivery belts train over the lower pulling roll I6 so that a shingle passing between these rolls is received between the lower run of the,

upper belt and the upper run of the lower belt. The operative position of two associated pairs of bars 5| and 5|1 (one above and the other below) is such that their respective sheaves will almost touch (see Fig. 3) thereby maintaining pulling engagement between the opposed faces of the belts 56 and 561 and the opposite faces of. each shingle up to the point of emergence from tHe belts of these sheaves.

The bars with associated pulleys and belts should be suulcient in number and close enough in spacing to afford a travelling support, above and below, for the separated shingles which emerge from between the pulling rolls and belts. These belts are arranged in groups of perhaps ilve vor six each, disposed side by side, each group adapted to receive the successive shingles a, b, c, or d which are severed from one of the four'lanes longitudinally of the sheet. For example, if the sheet be slitted to produce four shingles transversely thereof (as herein illustrated), there will be four groups of belts provided, one for each set of shingles a and d adjacent opposite edges The discharge end of each group of delivery` belts lies opposite a board 65 which is loosely rested in inclined position upon a supporting rack E6. yEach such board accordingly constitutes a delivery station for one set of shingles, a, b, c, or d as the case may be. As the shingles are advanced successively beyond the ends of the delivery belts, they drop onto the inclined board of the proximate station and come to rest against an adjustable stop 61. A stack of shingles is thus built up which, when of a desired size, may be removed for bundling.

In some cases it may be desirable to locate some of the delivery stations at points other than side by side. A tandem arrangement which provides a working passageway between stations close to themachine and other stations further? removed therefrom is indicated in Fig. 9. For such an arrangement we provide an endless transmission belt 10 extending between rolls 1| and 12 with other rolls 13 and 14 supporting the intermediate portion of the lower run of the belt at an elevated level, and still other rolls 15 and 16 doing the same for the upper run of the belt. Head room beneath this transmission belt is accordingly provided, permitting workmen to attend to the delivery stations proximate to the machine without interference. sion belt carries connected shingles which are disposed in a selected lane of the sheet to a distant point where we may provide upper and lower delivery belts-11 and 18, respectively, with associated sheaves 19 and 80, respectively, for directing the shingles upon inclined boards 8|.

In operation the present take-oil mechanism will receive and distribute to various stations the shingles which are separated from the sheet. If necessary for access or other purposes, the vertical bars may be quickly and easily raised or lowered, as desired, the handle levers normally engaging therewith by gravity so as to lock these bars in their fixed operative positions.

The adjustable idler rolls may be shifted toward or from the feeding or'pulling rolls, according as conditions require. If the condition of the severed sheet is such that pressure should be maintained thereon at a point closer to the pulling rolls than the feeding rolls. then the idler Each transmislg mi* lconnection with each sheave to maintain the supv 2,148,379 'rolls may be shifted in that direction. VThe po-` sition which the idler rolls shouldoccupy may be determined by conditions, the object being to assure of a complete and clean separation of `shingles from the sheet and from eachother.

We claim:

1. In a take-Goff 'mechanism for shingles severed from a sheet, the combination of a pair of grooved'rolls through which the shingles. are processionally advanced side by side, a plurality of upper and lower sheaves, adjustable swinging supports' for the sheaves, upper and lower` delivery belts extending around said rolls and sheaves adapted to receive between them, and engage opposite faces of, a succession of shingles, and an extensible strut with associated spring means in connection with each sheave for maintaining the supported belt taut. f

2. In a take-ofi? .mechanism for shingles severed 'from a sheet, the combination of a pair of grooved rols through which the shingles are processonally advanced side by side, a plurality of upper and lower sheaves, upper and lower delivery belts extending around said rolls and sheaves adapted to receive between them, and engage opposite races of, a succession of shingles, an extensible strut with associated spring means in ported belt taut, and means for supporting each sheavecomprising a pivoted Vlocking lever and a bar slidingly` supported by said lever.

3. In a take-oil mechanism for shingles severed from a sheet, the combination of a'pair of grooved rolls through which the shingles are4 processionally advanced side by side, a plurality of upper and lower sheaves, upper and lower delivery belts extending around said rolls, and sheaves adapted to receive between them, and engage opposite faces `of a succession of shingles, an extendible strut with associated spring means in connection with each sheave to maintain the supported belt taut, and means for supporting each sheave at a fixed vertical point without affecting the tautness of its supported belt.

4. In a take-ofi` mechanism for shingles severed from a sheet, the combination of a-pair of rolls through which the shingles are processionally advanced side by side and, adjacent thereto,

a plurality `of delivery belts arranged in pairs,

one over the other, in such manner as to receive a succession of shingles between the lower mn of the upper belt and the upper run of the lower belt for engagement thereby, a sheave for each belt at a point remote from the rolls, and a vertically adjustable tension mounting for each sheave whereby to maintain its associated belt taut.

5. In a take-oft mechanism for shingles severed from a sheet, the combination of a pali' of rolls through which the shingles are processionally advanced side by side and, adjacent thereto, a plurality of delivery belts arranged in pairs, one over the other, in such manner as to receive a succession of shingles between the lower run of the upper belt and the upper run of the lower belt for engagement thereby, a sheave for each belt at a point remote from the rolls', means for maintaining each belt taut, and releasable locking means for each sheave comprising two members interconnected for pivoted sliding movement adaptedv to support the sheave at a selected vertical point. I

6. The combination of a take-off mechanism for shingles which are severed from a slitted traveling sheet passing between two sets of opposed feedingand pulling rolls, of a supporting member traveling between the vtwo sets of rolls in supporting engagement with the slitted sheet, and co-acting idler rolls between the sets of feeding and pulling rolls arranged respectively above and below the sheet and supporting member vadapted to exert a, compressive force thereupon whereby to insure a complete andclean separation of shingles from the sheet and from each' other.

7. The combination of a take-off mechanis for shingles which are severed from a slitted traveling sheet passing between two sets of opposedV feeding and `pulling rolls, of a belt traveling between ytwo sets of rolls in supporting engagement with the sheets, co-acting idler rolls between the-sets of feeding and pulling rolls arranged 'respectively above and below the sheet and supporting belt adapted to exert a compressive force thereupon, and an adjustable mounting for the co-acting idler rolls such that of belts and sheaves in divergent relations to other pairs of belts and sheaves, and means cooperating with the discharge end of each belt for the transfer of 'shingles therefrom to a desired station.

OWEN D. MCFARLAND. ALFRED O. MICKELSON. 

